today's news

Six weeks after the AVA status announcement, Los Angeles County commissioners forbid new vineyard plantings. This week, a new challenge arose: a proposed 10-month extension of the ban on new plantings in the north Santa Monica Mountains.

"The Underwood family is thrilled to begin this new venture and establish a distribution presence in the heart of the U.S. fine wines and spirits import business," says Chris. "The newly established Wilson Daniels Wholesale company offers a portfolio of terroir-focused wines and spirits that are singular expressions of their region."

Paul Hobbs Wines is pleased to announce the appointment of Rick Bonitati to the position of Chief Operating Officer. Bonitati will assist in the oversight, development, and growth of all Paul Hobbs entities including Paul Hobbs Winery, CrossBarn Winery, Paul Hobbs Imports, Viña Cobos, Crocus, and other new projects.

The 45-year-old Lewis has gotten married and started his own wine store in Lake Mills that soon developed into a burgeoning winery, called Lewis Station Winery in downtown Lake Mills. But most recently, Lewis went through a health ordeal between 2013 and 2014 that, when recounted, can make even the most strong-stomached person turn ghostly white.

Larry Williams, professor and plant physiologist-AES at the University of California-Davis, says that grapes in the San Joaquin Valley are OK for now, because growers have been able to pump groundwater for irrigation. There has also been minimal impact on coastal winegrapes in Napa and Sonoma counties, thanks to reservoirs and groundwater.

Attend a complimentary, live webinar on Tuesday, Aug 4th at 11 a.m. PT - The Smart Approach to DTT Wine Shipping - and find out how you can meet your customers' delivery demands quickly and easily with a simple model that gives you a direct overnight route to your trade customers. (Promoted Article)

Firefighters battling a fast-moving wildfire that destroyed at least three homes in eastern Lake County struggled to gain an advantage over the fire Thursday afternoon in scorching, triple-digit temperatures as the blaze expanded to burn over about 13 square miles of rugged and remote pasture and timberland.

Concha y Toro, which owns 2,656 acres of vineyards including 1,144 acres at Fetzer and Bonterra in Mendocino, claims to be the world's largest owner of vineyards since Treasury Estates sold the 275 acres around its venerable Asti Winery to Gallo, dropping it to 10,670.

Owner and CEO Michael Dorf's optimistic plan never really connected with local residents. The restaurant received a tepid reception and "some of the nights" shows sold out, but the venue never achieved the response he'd hoped for

Cass Vineyard and Winery was named Winery of the Year for its exceptional selection of wines by the Central Coast Wine Competition. The Paso Robles winery was recognized at the California Mid-State Fair's annual Cattlemen and Farmers' Day.

Once home to fur traders, gold miners and infamous train robber Billy Miner, Kamloops, B.C., now boasts lush farms, a stunning riverfront and the recently created Kamloops Wine Trail. Not one to miss out on a day of wine tasting (not to mention exploring, shopping and spa-ing), we packed our bags and drove straight there.

Back in 2000, assyrtiko (pronounced ah-SEER-tee-koh) was indeed out on the fringe. But it's obscure no more, and it's hardly the property of an elite few big cities. It's available all around the country, with the exception of several states. That is not because assyrtiko is rare, but because of a ridiculously archaic American distribution system